Transport Minister revealed the GPS-based vehicle-tracking system had linked about 1,000 HRTC-run buses in Shimla, Mandi, Palampur and Baijnath depots that aimed at checking over-speeding, overloading and reckless driving.

Minister further hinted to cover all commercial and passenger vehicles and state carriages to be linked to the system. He also renamed the office of the Director, Transport, as Road Safety and Transport.

GS Bali stated that in case a bus is over-speeding or over-loaded, a text message will be sent to the conductor and action will be taken against the erring driver.

RN Batta, Managing director, HRTC, and Director, Transport, revealed that the tracking system would build data on track record of vehicles and drivers, check speed, load, location, bus time and breakdown, if any and all information would route to regional manager and control room and the passengers would get information on arrival and departure time.

Batta claimed that GPS-based vehicle-tracking system was the most refined software in the country.

Tracking system had cost nearly Rs 6.5 crore and department hoping it to keep vigil on the prime functioning of HRTC.